History of the medal
Original Soviet Chernobyl Liquidator Medal was established to award people, whose number is reducing with each passing day — the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident. April 26, 1986 there was an explosion, the underestimated extent of which led to mass casualties and sick people. Volunteers suppressed the fire without any means of defense, received huge doses of radiation. Most of the first who faced the radiation horror died within a week.
This medal was the first one of Chernobyl awards to award the liquidators of that horrible Chernobyl catastrophe that happened in April, 1986. About 800 thousand people took part in the recovery from the accident that occurred on April 26. The medal was established on May 14, 1990 by the State Committee of USSR on Labour and Social Issues. Together with the medal there was issued an authorization document to each of the awardees.
Statute of the medal
.In accordance with the Regulations on the medal it was awarded to:
- Participants of liquidation of consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe;
- Persons who provide medical, rehabilitation, social and other assistance to the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident, as well as public organizations and associations of veterans of special risk.
Description of the medal
Chernobyl Liquidator Medal is made of yellow metal. It is made in the shape of a cross of red. Between the shoulders of the cross there are rays of golden color diverging in different directions. In the central part of the medal, in the circle, there is placed the image of the invisible process of poisoning of blood with radiation: a drop of blood, through which there pass the alpha, beta and gamma rays. Along the cutting edges of the Chernobyl award there are words «Chernobyl accident liquidator». The medal is attached to the suspension device decorated with moire ribbon.There device is to fix the medal on clothes with the help of a pin. Below the pin there is a mint mark to distinguish where the meal was produced.